Aberdeen’s hospitality sector is celebrating a major boost after an estimated 35,000 diners spent more than £1 million during the latest Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks.
Restaurants, bars and cafés across the city reported packed dining rooms, new customers and strong repeat interest as the two-week Foodie Fortnight came to a close on Sunday, September 6.
A total of 83 venues took part in the Aberdeen Inspired initiative, offering specially priced lunch and dinner menus alongside curated à la carte and tasting-menu experiences. The city centre festival, staged twice a year by Aberdeen Inspired, has been hailed by participating businesses as one of its strongest editions to date.
Graham Mitchell, chef proprietor of Tarragon by Graham Mitchell and Tarragon on the Terrace, said both venues had been fully booked throughout the campaign.
“Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks has been absolutely phenomenal for us,” he said. “Both Tarragon by Graham Mitchell and Tarragon on the Terrace have been fully booked, and what has been particularly encouraging is seeing so many new faces coming through the doors.
“We’ve had customers telling us they had never visited before, but Restaurant Weeks gave them the reason to try us – and they’re already saying they’ll be back. That is exactly what an initiative like this should achieve.”
Mitchell suggested the success of the festival raised a wider question about how Aberdeen can sustain that level of hospitality footfall beyond the fortnight itself.
“I joked that we should stop calling it Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks and make it Aberdeen Restaurant Month, but there is a serious point behind that,” he said.
“When you see the difference these two weeks have made, you have to ask how we keep that momentum going? Aberdeen has a fantastic food and drink scene, with some incredibly talented chefs, restaurateurs and hospitality teams, and we need to keep giving people reasons to come out and experience it.”
New customers through the door
The positive reaction was echoed by Chef Jang of Yorokobi by CJ, which took part in Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks for the first time.
“Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks has been a great success for the whole team at Yorokobi by CJ, with the restaurant full, especially at weekends,” said Chef Jang.
“In fact, on the first weekend of the festival we had people queuing at the door, as we were so busy.
“It has been a great opportunity for us to take part for the first time, and it has really paid off. We have been delighted to see new customers coming in to specifically try our Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks menu and we’re over the moon to have received so many compliments about it.
“We hope those new guests will now become regular and much-valued customers.”
Chantal Necchi, owner of Gio’s by La Lombarda on the Castlegate, said the event had brought a welcome mix of newcomers, regular diners and returning customers to the long-established business.
“I can honestly say this has been our best Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks so far,” she said. “We’ve been really busy, with lots of new faces, our regulars and even people coming back who haven’t been to La Lombarda for years, which has been really lovely.
“It’s also been really nice to see so many younger people coming in. We’re incredibly proud of our history going back to 1922, but we also need a new generation to discover Gio’s.
“Seeing them alongside people who remember La Lombarda from years ago is quite a nice mix.”
She added: “It’s been an exhausting couple of weeks, but a really enjoyable one. Seeing the restaurant so busy and then reading some of the lovely reviews afterwards makes it all worthwhile.”
More than £1m for the city
Shona Byrne, Aberdeen Inspired project manager, said early figures collated by the city centre Business Improvement District suggested approximately 35,000 diners took part, contributing more than £1 million to Aberdeen’s economy over the two-week period.
She said the result demonstrated the festival’s value not only to participating venues, but also to the wider city centre.
“I think this is the best reaction we have had yet, with so many venues telling us of being flat out busy or even fully booked as people seek out the specially curated and unique menus on offer for Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks,” she said.
“They have been delighted at the way the public have been supporting the festival and the businesses taking part, with that enthusiasm translating into increased footfall and trade.
“During the two weeks of Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks, the city has certainly felt busier and bustling – which is one of the driving forces for Aberdeen Inspired staging the Foodie Fortnight.”
The campaign also generated significant online attention. Social media content produced by Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks ambassadors, highlighting participating venues, attracted 1.1 million Instagram views.
Byrne said the public response had been “overwhelmingly positive”, with diners sharing meals, recommendations and tips online.
“That shows how popular the event is and it is a delight to see the way people have embraced this latest outing of Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks,” she said.
“We can’t thank enough everyone who took the time to come into the city to enjoy the event and show their support for our hospitality sector.”
Secret Suppers and prize draws
Alongside the venue offers, the festival featured two Secret Suppers, both of which sold out within hours of going on sale. Diners discovered only on the day that their mystery meals would take place at 210 Bistro and Tropicalismo.
The “Dine, Scan, Win” campaign also proved popular, attracting more than 7,000 entries. Diners could scan a QR code at their table for the chance to win one of 14 daily £50 Aberdeen Gift Cards during the fortnight.
“All our winners said they were so thrilled at the bonus of scooping an Aberdeen Gift Card while out enjoying an Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks meal,” Byrne said. “It did add a bit of excitement to things.”
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said the festival offered a strong model for bringing people into the city while supporting bricks-and-mortar hospitality businesses.
“It really is the perfect recipe for attracting people into Aberdeen with something they will enjoy while also supporting bricks and mortar businesses in our vital hospitality sector,” he said.
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“And the boost brought by the festival extends beyond the two weeks it is running. It really does give people a taste of just how good restaurants, bars and cafés are in Aberdeen.
“People will have found some new favourite places to eat and become regular customers, while also being inspired to seek out other new spots in future.
“The F
